214 PERFORMING CATS. 



"Miaulique," in huge letters, being on the outside. In 

 1789 there is an account of a Venetian giving cat concerts, 

 and the facsimile of a print of the seventeenth century 

 picturing a cat showman. 



"In 1758, or the following year, Bisset, the famous 

 animal trainer, hired a room near the Haymarket, at which 

 he announced a public performance of a ' Cats' Opera,' 

 supplemented by tricks of a horse, a dog, and some 

 monkeys, etc. The ' Cats' Opera ' was attended by 

 crowded houses, and Bisset cleared a thousand pounds 

 in a few days. After a successful season in London, he 

 sold some of the animals, and made a provincial tour with 

 the rest, rapidly accumulating a considerable fortune." — 

 Mr. Frost's Old Showman. 



" Many years ago a concert w^as given at Paris, wherein 

 cats were the performers. They were placed in rows, and 

 a monkey beat time to them. According as he beat the 

 time so the cats mewed ; and the historian of the fact 

 relates that the diversity of the tones which they emitted 

 produced a very ludicrous effect. This exhibition was an- 

 nounced to the Parisian public by the title of Concert 

 Miaulaiit.^^ — Zoological Anecdotes. 



Another specimen of discipline is to be found in 

 " Menageries." The writer says : '' Cats may be taught to 

 perform tricks, such as leaping over a stick, but they always 

 do such feats unwillingly. There is at present an exhibition 

 of cats in Regent Street, who, at the bidding of their master, 

 an Italian, turn a wheel and drav/ up water in a bucket, ring 

 a bell ; and in doing these things begin, continue, and stop 

 as they are commanded. But the cofninencez, continuez^ 

 arretez of their keeper is always enforced with a threatening 

 eye, and often with a severe blow ; and the poor creatures 

 exhibit the greatest reluctance to proceed with their un- 

 natural employments. They have a subdued and piteous 

 look ; but the scratches upon their master's arms show that 

 his task is not always an easy one." 



Of performing cats on the stage, there have been several 

 "companies" of late in London, one of which I went to see 



